What is the historical roots of this problem? What has been tried in the past?
What are the current approaches?
How does this problem/issue relate to RI schools? Is there evidence of a connection to the schools/districts/communities that we researched earlier?
What are your views, opinions, concerns, or solutions related to the problem?
1. The problem with student-centered learning is that it is a time consuming process. The ideas are well supported however in a classroom of 24 to 30 students it is difficult to monitor each child's success and keep each child on track. Student-centered learning focuses on letting the child educate him or herself rather than having the teacher lecture[1] . This allows for the child to ask and answer his or her own questions however it is difficult for the teacher to keep all children in relatively the same place. Since each child works at his or her own pace and level, it is difficult for the teacher to make sure each child stays at a relatively similar place without rushing and/or pressuring the child. This also brings up the concern of the teacher. If the teacher is not presenting information or lecturing, then what is he or she doing? Controversy over what the teacher is or should be doing is the main problem. The way student-centered learning is structured with the teacher as the facilitator, one could assume that the teacher is merely there to keep order and grade the work. This brings up the concern of the misguided individuals, if the teacher is just 'babysitting' then what is he or she getting paid for?
2. This issue of student-centered learning is important because it has the potential to increase the child's understanding of the topic. If a child develops the skill to ask and answer his or her own questions then it gives him or her a greater understanding of the topic rather than if the information was just presented to them. By asking a child to form their own questions and seek their own answers it is developing their problem solving skills and it also gives the a greater sense of self-accomplishment. It also gives them the tools to helps then to further their education and even skills beyond school that they can use in the workplace and everyday life.
3. The concept of student-centered learning was credited as early as 1905 by Hayward and in 1956 by Dewey [2] . However teaching remained highly teacher-centered until about 20 years ago. Since then, student-centered learning has slowly started to become integrated into classrooms across America. Although many classrooms are still not student-centered there are certain activities that are student-centered as well as some teachers who use student-centered methods.
4. Currently, student-centered learning is gaining more publicity. Schools are starting to realize the benefits of student-centered learning and are gradually integrating the practices into today's classrooms. However, due to the controversy over what the students are actually learning and what the teacher is and should be doing, integrating student-centered learning into schools is not going to be an easy task. There will have to be a structured, standard curriculum in order for parents and teachers to feel comfortable with this new idea.
5. ?
6. I feel like at the moment, student-centered learning is more of an ideal. I think that is where most of the skepticism comes in. Because education is seen as a structured system, the loosely structured system of student-centered learning creates a bit of uncertainty. However, I feel like the idea is catching on. From personal experience, I know there were teachers that encouraged students to ask their own questions and find their own answers. This in essence is the student-centered learning style. Although the whole course was not taught like this, some of the activities done in the course required this skill. Also, I think that no matter where you go you will find teachers who accept the student-centered learning style, and those who take a more traditional role in teaching. I think student-centered learning allows the student to develop problem solving skills that the traditional teaching method wouldn't allow for, however I don't think one way is better than the other, just a different way educating.
^ “Student-centred learning: What does it mean for students and lecturers?,” zotero://attachment/372/.
^ O'Sullivan M, “The reconceptualisation of learner-centred approaches: A Nambian case Study,” International Journal of Educational Development (2003).
1. The problem with student-centered learning is that it is a time consuming process. The ideas are well supported however in a classroom of 24 to 30 students it is difficult to monitor each child's success and keep each child on track. Student-centered learning focuses on letting the child educate him or herself rather than having the teacher lecture[1] . This allows for the child to ask and answer his or her own questions however it is difficult for the teacher to keep all children in relatively the same place. Since each child works at his or her own pace and level, it is difficult for the teacher to make sure each child stays at a relatively similar place without rushing and/or pressuring the child. This also brings up the concern of the teacher. If the teacher is not presenting information or lecturing, then what is he or she doing? Controversy over what the teacher is or should be doing is the main problem. The way student-centered learning is structured with the teacher as the facilitator, one could assume that the teacher is merely there to keep order and grade the work. This brings up the concern of the misguided individuals, if the teacher is just 'babysitting' then what is he or she getting paid for?
2. This issue of student-centered learning is important because it has the potential to increase the child's understanding of the topic. If a child develops the skill to ask and answer his or her own questions then it gives him or her a greater understanding of the topic rather than if the information was just presented to them. By asking a child to form their own questions and seek their own answers it is developing their problem solving skills and it also gives the a greater sense of self-accomplishment. It also gives them the tools to helps then to further their education and even skills beyond school that they can use in the workplace and everyday life.
3. The concept of student-centered learning was credited as early as 1905 by Hayward and in 1956 by Dewey [2] . However teaching remained highly teacher-centered until about 20 years ago. Since then, student-centered learning has slowly started to become integrated into classrooms across America. Although many classrooms are still not student-centered there are certain activities that are student-centered as well as some teachers who use student-centered methods.
4. Currently, student-centered learning is gaining more publicity. Schools are starting to realize the benefits of student-centered learning and are gradually integrating the practices into today's classrooms. However, due to the controversy over what the students are actually learning and what the teacher is and should be doing, integrating student-centered learning into schools is not going to be an easy task. There will have to be a structured, standard curriculum in order for parents and teachers to feel comfortable with this new idea.
5. ?
6. I feel like at the moment, student-centered learning is more of an ideal. I think that is where most of the skepticism comes in. Because education is seen as a structured system, the loosely structured system of student-centered learning creates a bit of uncertainty. However, I feel like the idea is catching on. From personal experience, I know there were teachers that encouraged students to ask their own questions and find their own answers. This in essence is the student-centered learning style. Although the whole course was not taught like this, some of the activities done in the course required this skill. Also, I think that no matter where you go you will find teachers who accept the student-centered learning style, and those who take a more traditional role in teaching. I think student-centered learning allows the student to develop problem solving skills that the traditional teaching method wouldn't allow for, however I don't think one way is better than the other, just a different way educating.